How Athletes Have Created the Next Generation of Media Companies | Boardroom x All the Smoke Productions

Orlando Magic Power Forward Paolo Banchero's path to superstardom wasn't linear. Never considered a viral sensation, Banchero took Coach Mike Krzyzewski's early advice to go to Duke if he wanted a chance to become the NBA's #1 overall draft pick, a dream fulfilled in 2022. Banchero shares this and more in the newest installment of Boardroom Talks, where he sits with Boardroom Co-Founder Rich Kleiman to share his battle back from injury this season, how the chemistry of the Magic has evolved throughout his hiatus and return and how they're working toward a star-packed parity in the NBA similar to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Boston or Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in Denver. Later, the two discuss how the role of the NBA star has evolved from Michael Jordan to LeBron James and into present day stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards as well as how the latter, Edwards, shared an instrumental belief on how the playoffs are a unique beast of competition. Banchero also gushes over his love for Duke Basketball, his admiration for Duke phenom Cooper Flagg and what's next for his quest of becoming a perennial All-Star in the league.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber welcomes Boardroom into the MLS’ New York City office. In conversation with Boardroom Co-Founder and Philadelphia Union Part Owner Rich Kleiman the Major League Soccer commissioner discusses how an early job with the NFL jump started his career. Then, the duo discuss the nuances that come with managing sports owners, the impact of superstardom on the league brought on by players like Lionel Messi and David Beckham, how the AppleTV streaming partnership paved the way for other sports teams to follow suit and more. Later, Garber shares insights on the scalability of the league and the archetype of the modern fan, health and safety of its players, what fans can expect from the 2026 World Cup where he likens the global event to the NFL’s Super Bowl and so much more.

The Grand Marshall of the 2025 Super Bowl Parade, the face of a billion dollar chicken finger empire and a pillar of his community, Todd Graves has dedicated his life to building his business and solidifying it as a great place to work. In conversation with Boardroom Co-Founder Rich Kleiman, the Raising Canes founder is fresh off of successful Super Bowl and All-Star Weekends where his brand could not be missed alongside some of the biggest names in sports, entertainment and culture including Kevin Hart, Kevin Durant, Cardi B and more. Graves gets into the origin of his empire, sharing how a failed business plan in college and negative feedback from local banks gave him the motivation to go out on his own and raise the funds to build his company in early years. He also shares some of his biggest lessons of his journey, from being rattled by the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina to the speed of growth he underwent. Later, Graves discusses the importance of making sure his employees feel valued and see a valuable growth trajectory within Raising Canes and how while he isn't interested in a traditional franchise model, he's found success in rev-sharing models with one of the biggest names in entertainment - Post Malone. Lastly, Graves gives a nod to many of the professional athletes and Caniacs aligned with his brand, from Joe Burrow to Saquon Barkley, Graves shares how the athlete mindset, motivation and discipline serve as staples to the way be shapes his own personal philosophy.

Over the 2025 All-Star Weekend, Boardroom and Bose hosted an intimate conversation in San Francisco for an audience of business, entertainment and sports power players. The conversation, led by Boardroom CEO Rich Kleiman, was a deep dive into the intersection of sports, music and culture, driven by Carmelo Anthony, Quavo, and Bose CEO Jim Mollica - three individuals who know the space best. As a newly minted NBA Hall Of Fame inductee, Anthony's storied career gave him the ability to reflect on how much the business has changed to become more collaborative through the years, a sentiment that Mollica can agree with from a corporate perspective. Mollica shares how his team in the music space has committed to partnering with music lovers across several sectors, including the brand's partnership with Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards. Quavo, a Grammy-nominated music icon, also shared how many of his most popular hits and career moments are deeply reflective of the NBA culture he was raised on, showing again how the ties between all of these individuals remain intrinsically tied.

Join Rich Kleiman and NBA champion turned media mogul (and podcasting OG) Matt Barnes as they break down the business behind building the next generation of media companies. Matt shares how he and co-host Stephen Jackson turned a simple idea into an award-winning podcast that transformed athlete storytelling and broke down barriers in sports media. Highlights: The Origin Story: How All The Smoke began with candid, barbershop-style conversations. Challenges & Triumphs: Navigating media business deals and overcoming initial skepticism. Cultural Impact: The show’s role in shifting perceptions on cannabis and athlete voices in media. Partnerships & Growth: Insight into structuring deals with Showtime, iHeart, and their leap to self-sufficiency with DraftKings. New Media vs. Old Media: The shift in athlete-driven content and what it means for the future.

In this episode of Boardroom Talks, Gabe Oshin sits down with The Kid Mero, internet icon and media mogul, to dive into his journey from Twitter user to cultural powerhouse. Mero shares the key lesson he learned from the term “in perpetuity”, the impact of co-signs from stars like Marlon Wayans and Wale, and his mission to become the “Dominican Dick Wolf”. He also discusses the role of nepotism in entertainment, how he'd replicate 50 Cent’s business strategy if starting fresh, and the one NBA concept he thinks needs to make a comeback.Don't miss this insightful conversation on branding, business, and self-worth!

In this episode of Boardroom Talks, Rich Kleiman sits down with super producer Mike Will Made-It to explore his groundbreaking career. Mike breaks down how Atlanta's musical legacy influenced modern sound, why genre-blending is key to his success, and the powerful impact of artists like Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, and Future. Plus, he shares his thoughts on the role of Artificial Intelligence in music, the mystery behind streaming numbers, and how industry icon Jimmy Iovine shaped his approach to making hip hop accessible to the mainstream. Don’t miss this candid conversation with one of the industry's most influential producers!

At just 19, JuJu is coming off an incredible season, scoring 51 points and earning First-Team All-American honors. In this candid conversation with Boardroom's Vinciane Ngomsi, JuJu shares her journey from choosing USC and the impact of Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb to the strong bond with her teammates.Discover what makes JuJu a fan favorite, from her love for low-top sneakers on the court to the secret behind her iconic signature bun. Plus, hear her hopes for a special guest—Sanaa Lathan of Love & Basketball—to catch her in action this season. Don’t miss JuJu’s insights on what success looks like for her this year and why now is the perfect time to support USC basketball!

Myles Garrett joins Boardroom Talks with Gabe Oshin to dive into his journey from the NFL to NBA ownership and beyond. Garrett opens up about joining Klutch Sports and how LeBron James' team and work ethic inspired him. He reflects on his peak performance during the 2019-2020 season and discusses his passion for ownership, from the NBA to pickleball. Plus, Garrett reacts to receiving 3 custom Lids hats and reveals his ambitions to one day break into professional soccer, drawing insight from Tom Brady and LeBron James. Don’t miss this in-depth conversation with one of the NFL’s top defensive players!

Wallo267, host of Million Dollaz Worth of Game and New York Times bestselling author of Armed With Good Intentions, didn’t achieve success overnight. In this episode of Boardroom Talks, he sits down with Rich Kleiman to share the raw truth about relationships in prison, the unlikely characters he met, and the mental strength he developed during his decades behind bars. Wallo reveals how those lessons taught him everything he needed to know about marketing, building relationships, and growing a business. He also dives into his business partnership with Barstool and reflects on whether money truly solves life's biggest problems.